Biomaterial Database

Two levels of regulation of beta-interferon gene expression in human cells. 1983

N B Raj, and P M Pitha

We cloned alpha- and beta-interferon cDNA and used them as specific probes to determine the relative levels of interferon mRNA in human fibroblasts cells induced with poly(rI).poly(rC) or Newcastle disease virus to synthesize interferon. Both inducers activated only the beta-interferon gene; however, the half life of beta-interferon mRNA in cells induced with virus was substantially longer than in poly(rI).poly(rC)-induced cells. The transcription rate of beta-interferon RNA sequences was examined in nuclei isolated from poly(rI).poly(rC)-induced cells; it was found that the induction leads to transcriptional activation of the beta-interferon gene and that the shutoff period when no interferon synthesis or cytoplasmic betamRNA are detected. Thus, the synthesis of beta interferon in poly(rI).poly-(rC)-induced human fibroblasts is controlled both by activation of transcription of the beta-interferon gene and by alteration of the beta-interferon mRNA stability.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007370	Interferon Type I	Interferon secreted by leukocytes, fibroblasts, or lymphoblasts in response to viruses or interferon inducers other than mitogens, antigens, or allo-antigens. They include alpha- and beta-interferons (INTERFERON-ALPHA and INTERFERON-BETA).	Interferons Type I,Type I Interferon,Type I Interferons,Interferon, Type I,Interferons, Type I
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008297	Male		Males
D009693	Nucleic Acid Hybridization	Widely used technique which exploits the ability of complementary sequences in single-stranded DNAs or RNAs to pair with each other to form a double helix. Hybridization can take place between two complimentary DNA sequences, between a single-stranded DNA and a complementary RNA, or between two RNA sequences. The technique is used to detect and isolate specific sequences, measure homology, or define other characteristics of one or both strands. (Kendrew, Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology, 1994, p503)	Genomic Hybridization,Acid Hybridization, Nucleic,Acid Hybridizations, Nucleic,Genomic Hybridizations,Hybridization, Genomic,Hybridization, Nucleic Acid,Hybridizations, Genomic,Hybridizations, Nucleic Acid,Nucleic Acid Hybridizations
D010957	Plasmids	Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS.	Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D011070	Poly I-C	Interferon inducer consisting of a synthetic, mismatched double-stranded RNA. The polymer is made of one strand each of polyinosinic acid and polycytidylic acid.	Poly(I-C),Poly(rI).Poly(rC),Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid,Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid (High MW),Polyriboinosinic-Polyribocytidylic Acid,Polyribose Inosin-Cytidil,Inosin-Cytidil, Polyribose,Poly I C,Polyinosinic Polycytidylic Acid,Polyriboinosinic Polyribocytidylic Acid,Polyribose Inosin Cytidil
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D002467	Cell Nucleus	Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D005347	Fibroblasts	Connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules.	Fibroblast